Different Class - Pulp > Reviews > M.U.S.I.C.T.H.A.T.S.G.R.E.A.T

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks	Flawless
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Outstanding
Value for Money

Advantages:	Great lyrics, great sound
Disadvantages:	None

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Everyone remembers their early musical days, however vaguely. The first few albums you bought, the music you liked when you were a kid, the music you hated. Me, I didn't really get into music in a big way until later in my teens, although I appreciated and enjoyed it before that. But it wasn't until my mid-teens when I actually started buying cassettes/CDs for my own listening pleasure.

It may surprise some people to hear that 'Different Class' was actually one of the earlier CDs I bought – despite being about 14 by that time. But I didn't really get into actually BUYING albums until then, I just enjoyed my music off the radio, and other people's music! Obviously, this was a big step forward for me (even if I WAS only buying tapes LOL). Well, I have pretty much all the albums I bought on tape on CD now, so I can enjoy all that digital quality sound (oh baby!).

- I spy a boy…

Pulp hasn't had what one could call a particularly simple past. The only really mainstay of the whole Pulp 'experience' has been the man himself – Jarvis Cocker. Other than that, they've been through a whole range of different lineups starting in 1978 in Sheffield, before forming a more stable band in the late 80s. By this time they'd produced so many different types of music it's inconceivable – dark morbid material, folky styled music, acid house and pop influences, before settling into an altogether 'safer' indie and pop styling in the early 90s. There's still a few of the old influences present, as we shall see as we look at the album, but it's nice to see that they've finally got the success they deserve after a decidedly lack-lustre period in the 80s.

When I look at Pulp's music on 'Different Class', I tend to find the sort of thing I can identify with. Confused feelings, aspects of inferiority, the beauty of love and the whole class difference thing all help to consolidate the kind of way I was feeling in my teens. You only have to look at the first track 'Mis-shapes' to see that.

- Won't it be strange when we're all fully grown?

The great thing about 'Different Class' is it's variety. It gives little thought to mediocrity, and it's often that you'll see it leaping from a light happy pop song right down to something altogether more dark. Let's take a look shall we?

- Mis-shapes
The first song starts off with quite a light and airy song. It sort of typifies the whole album – a reflection on the class wars that go on in our everyday lives. Just look at the lyrics "We want your homes/ We want your lives/ We want the things you won't allow us/ We won't use guns/ We won't use bombs/ We'll use the one thing we've got more of – that's our minds". Strong lyrics, and lyrics with meaning – something I always look for in a decent song. The combination of abrupt guitars and drums and the unusual backing of organ, synth and, in an innovative twist, a stylophone.

- Pencil Skirt
I always find this track quite amusing in it's upbeat treatment of adultery. The organ backing the simplistic guitar riffs gives this song a rather happy and light feel, while Jarvis sings calming over the top about his marriage-wrecking antics, and his inability to pull out of the relationship. It's what I'd term a 'grower' – you probably won't like it to start with, but you will after a few listens.

- Common People
This song is spiralling towards 'cheesy' status with the level of playtime it's received on the radio and in clubs at the time. Luckily it fell into the background before that could happen, as it would have been a great shame to see that happen to such a great song. You'll find that the roles are reversed in this song – the synth and organ provide the foreground in this one, and the guitar just plays backup. It's certainly an 'anthemic' song to say the least, taking a cynical look at how the upper classes picture the working class – specifically a little rich girl wanting to know what it's like. A great track, although there are better on the album.

- I Spy
As I said, some of Pulp's roots show through in this album, and this a perfect example of this, a dive back into a more dense and dark period. The synth and deep drums lend this song a more melancholy feel, and while Jarvis sings the lyrics, I feel they could still work well in a modern poem (albeit a rather hateful one!). It looks at Jarvis as a working class man on a mission to reach revenge on his hated class system by seducing rich housewives and wrecking their lives that way. The lyrics are beautifully constructed:

"Y'see, I spy for a living/ And I specialise in revenge/ I'm taking the things I know will cause you pain/ I can't help it/ I was dragged up/ My favourite parks are car parks/ Grass is something you smoke/ Birds are something you shag/ Take your Year In Provence/ And shove it up your ass…"

The whole atmosphere of something epic and all-pervading is added to by the wonderful orchestral backing – it sounds great. It delves the album right down into the depth of darkness…

- Disco 2000
…And then back up it comes again. This is a happy-go-lucky guitar pop song about a boy's infatuation with a young girl called Deborah. I have to say that, when you look at the quality of the other tracks on the album, this one actually doesn't stand out all that much. Sure, it's a great party track, but it really doesn't have the same kind of depth that most of the other tracks possess. It's nice as one of those songs you can relate to when you're a depressed and lonely teenager, because that's how Jarvis puts himself across in the song. Great song, but not the best.

- Live Bed Show
Like a rollercoaster of emotions, this track plunges back down a 50ft slope into the depths of the dark and dense side of Pulp. This is a rather despairing and depressed look at the demise of a relationship, a beautiful love that faded and passed away without either party ever realising it until it was too late. 'Live Bed Show' is quite a tragically beautiful ballad, and the use of the bass drum and synth makes it all the more gloomy. Top stuff.

- Something Changed
This is more of an upbeat love song, about the life changing impact of a love that creeps up and suddenly hits you in the face before you even see it coming. Quite a contrast to 'Live Bed Show', but it's always been my position that this is quite intentional. I love the guitar riffs in this song, backed up by synth and strings – it always has a very light and happy feel to it. This is one of the few singles I ever bought, and the B side was the excellent 'Miles End' from the Trainspotting soundtrack. Happy memories!

- Sorted For E's & Wizz
This has always been my least favourite track on the album. It's a psychedelic and dreamy look at the relative merits and downfalls of drug use. It's quite a strange recording too – a combination of live track (from Glastonbury '95 where it was debuted – I remember that too!) and studio recording. It's rather strange, but it fits the mood of the song.

- F.E.E.L.I.N.G.C.A.L.L.E.D.L.O.V.E
I hated this song when I first heard it, but as with so many other songs – it's a 'grower', and now I think it's actually one of the best tracks on the album! Ambient and atmospheric, this track mixes singing with spoken lyrics. It's inspired, and gives the whole song a foreboding and feverish feel – like the writer's mind is very distant world we all know. This song probably has the most inspired lyrics, poetic in style, perfect for listening to in the dark on a hot summers night.

"and as I stand and cross the room, I feel as if my whole life has been leading to this one moment. And as I touch your shoulder, tonight, this room has become the centre of the entire universe"

- Underwear
Probably one of the most simplistic songs on the album, with it's poppy reflections on sex and that side of relationship. It still has all the trademark clever quips that I love in Pulp songs "If fashion is your trade, then when you're naked/ I guess you must be unemployed yeah". Very croony, lots of fun.

- Monday Morning
This is a lot darker than 'Underwear', I've seen this track described as 'uptempo, downbeat', and that's exactly what it is – a rather despairing song played at a fast tempo. I love the line "Why live in the world when you can live in your head?" reflecting peoples withdrawal from the problems of the world into the safety and sanctity of the imagination. It's a rather bleak song, but also rather lively, so you're torn between quiet depression and getting up to dance. It's an inventive way of doing it, and it sounds great.

- Bar Italia
The final track is a gentle and even sort of fragile track, in the way that it looks at life – stuck in a rut just taking each day as it comes. "It's ok – it's just your mind." This is a beautifully sombre track, the sweeping guitars and vocals delivering you safely to the end of the album with a warm feeling in your heart. It's a fitting ending to a great album.

- So, what have we learnt here?

We've found a really great album, hidden in the mists of time. Sure, you won't listen to it every week, but you WILL listen to it, and you'll be glad when you do. You may even find yourself wondering why you hadn't pulled it out of the rack soon. I know I do every time I listen to it! It's a perfectly constructed album, with not a bad track on there – the music is great and the lyrics are superb. And Jarvis Cocker (yes, he is the man showed his backside to Michael Jackson – good on him I say) is the perfect person to carry the vocals. Altogether, this is a great album – well done Pulp!

Superb fan site – Bar Italia - http://www.baritalia.ukgateway.net